Tongs



Feb. 18, 1930. H F SMITH 1,747,605

TONGS Filed Feb. 25. 1926 Patented Feb. 18, 1930 HOWARD F. SMITH, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS Application Ied February 23, 1926. Serial No. 90,058.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a tongs.

One object of the invention is to provide a tongs of the character described specially adapted for application to pipe, and other objects to be turned, and by means of which said pipe may be readily turned in either direction or in a one way direction only.

Another object of the invention is to pro-V vide a tongs of the character described equipped with a novel type of spring latch pivoted to one of the tongs jaws and arranged to automatically engage the other jaw to hold said jaws in clamping position around l5 the pipe, said latch being adjustable to accommodate the tongs to pipes of different diameters.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of novel means for suspending the tongs in operative position. l

vWith the above and other objects in view this invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 shows a plan view of the tongs.

Figure 2 is an edge View, and

Figure 3 shows an enlarged elevation of the latch, partly in section.

Referring nowy more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in each of the figures the numeral 1 designates the tongs handle whose operative end has the superimposed plates 2, 2, bolted thereto on opposite sides of the handle and spaced apart, thus forming a head with the end slot 3 n therein. The facing sides of these plates are grooved to receive the handle end and the upper and lower plates have the side lugs 4, 4, and 5, 5, respectively. The under side of each lug 4 has a notch 6, forming a receiving bearing for the link 7 which fits over said lug. The corresponding lug 5 forms a stop to prevent the detachment of said link.

Chains, as 8, are connected to the links 7 and the upper ends of these chains are connected to a common ring 9 and another chain voutwardly turned and spaced apart.

10 is connected, at one end, to the ring 9 and at its other end` to the tongs handle. A suspending cable or chain 11 is connected to the ring 9 and by means of it the tongs may be suspended in the derrick, in position for application. j

The numerals 12, 12, designate the arcuate pipe engaging jaws which have Vflattened shanks 13, 13, which fit intothe slot 3 between the plates 2, 2, and have the respective slots 14, 14, which diverge from the handle and through which the bearing bolts 15, 15, pass. The inner sides of these slots have the insetbearing plates 16, 16, of hard metal, such as steel against which the bolts 15 bear. The outer ends of the jaws 12 alpe T e numeral 17 designates a U-shaped latch which is pivoted to one of said outturned ends 18, by means of the bolt 19. One arm of the latch has a bore 20 and the outturned end 18 has an aligned socket 21 in which there is located a coil spring 22 which surrounds said bolt. rfhe bore 20 and socket 21 have a keyway 23 rand the ends of the spring 22 75., j

are out turned and fit into keyways of the bore and socket respectively and the outer end of the bore 20 has a bushing 24 fitted therein which enclose and protects the spring and through which the bolt passes. rllhe bolt is held against detachment by the cotter Y key 25. l

The free end of the latch has a tapped hole to receive the adjusting screw 26 whose inner end has the bearing head 27. kThe head27 85.. is adapted to engage over the outturned end 28 of the other jaw 12 and in clamping the jaws around the pipe the latch will automatically drop into engaging position under the influence of the spring 22.

The adjusting screw may be adjusted within a limited range, as to give the jaws a corresponding rangein gripping pipe of different diameters. n j

When the tongs is applied to the pipe the handle may be manipulated in either direction, and one of the pins 15 will move toward the outer end of its slot 14 bearing against its plate 16 and the other pin 15 will travel along the sloping inside bearing plate 16 10Q' of the other slot 14 and cause the jaws to grip the pipe. The inner faces of the jaws have suitable pipe engaging teeth 29 to engage the pipe and prevent the slippage of the tongs on the pipe'.y

*The plates 2 have aligned holes 30, 30, through whicha stop pin 31 may be inserted behind the inner end of either shank 13. When the handle is swung into straight line position withnthe aws this stop pin will engage the end of the shankbehind which it is located and stop the handle before it is moved far enough to again bring the `jaws into clamping relation around the pipe.

What I claim is:

1. A tongs including a handle, head plates i secured to `opposite sides of the Voperative end ofr the handle, there being lateral lugs carried by opposite' sidesof each head plate7 the lugs ofone platel having bearing notches,

links fitted over said lugs and seated in said v notches, the lugs of the other plate forming into' said end slot of the head, bearing pins` `anchored in said head and passing through said jaw slots,'said jaw slots diverging outv retaining stops to prevent the detachment of saidlinks, pipe engagingjaws'connected to said platesy and a latchV to secure the .jaws

around the object to be turned.

2. A tongs including a handle, plates secured on opposite sides of the operative end thereof and spaced apart,ffo'rming a head, jaws connected to the head, a latch adapted tosecure the free ends of said jaws together to hold. the ljawsV in clamping relation around the object to'be turned, lateral lugs carried `wardly from the handle, ajremovable stop and means for immovabiy locating said stop alternatively in either Vof two positions. respectively behind the inner ends of the jaws,

alternatively,'to lim-it the movement of saidl jaws, in a selected direction. Y

4. A tongs including a handle one end of which isprovided with a head having an end slot, -a' pairv of arcuate jaws each having a o slot at one end', an inside bearing plate in each slot, said slotted ends vIittin-ginto said head slot, bearing pins anchored inthe-head and passing through said jaw slots, alatch adapted to secure the other ends of the jaws around the object to be turned, said headhaving two pair of aligned holes, one pair lola removable stop pin adapted to be located in either pair of said holes. Y

yIn testimony whereof I have signed my name.

HOWARD F. SMITH.

cated opposite the inner end of. each jaw and 

